Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Harry J. Gechter
CIMARRON - Harry J. "Jim" Gechter, 79, died Nov. 12, 2004, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
He was born Nov. 28, 1924, at Charleston, the son of Harry James and Leota Tinsley Gechter. He graduated from Cimarron High School in 1943. A resident of Cimarron since 1965, formerly of Offerle and Minneola, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the military police.
He belonged to United Methodist Church. He was a former member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
On Jan. 9, 1946, he married
Norma J. Koehn at Dodge City. She survives, Cimarron.
Other survivors include: three sons, Steve, Dodge City, Mick, Scott City, and Marc, Salina; two daughters, Jeanne Rohrbaugh, Cimarron, and Marsha Ganstrom, Robinson; three sisters, Mary Urwin, Liberal, Polly Schadegg and Florence Smith, both of Cimarron; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Cimarron United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Frank DeFisher presiding. Military rites will follow at the church with Howard Gotschall Post No. 1714, VFW. There will be no public visitation.
Memorials may be sent to Cimarron Public Library or the church, both in care of Swaim Funeral Home.
Dorothy M. Van Vleet
Dorothy Mae Van Vleet, 82, died Nov. 9, 2004, at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Las Vegas.
She was born Jan. 30, 1922, at Sac County, Iowa, the daughter of Anton and Anna Berning Ziegmann. She graduated from Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa, with a teaching certificate. A Hutchinson resident for the past 46 years, she was an elementary school teacher.
She belonged to St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Altar Society and Avon Presidents Club.
On Nov. 27, 1947, she married
James P. Van Vleet at Wall Lake, Iowa. He died Aug. 25, 2003.
Survivors include: two daughters, Patricia Trail, Henderson, Nev., and Vicki Tucker, Westminster, Colo.; two sisters, Agnes Boyd, Storm Lake, Iowa, and Alice Snyder, Shaller, Iowa; and three grandchildren, Ryan Hanson, Kris Tucker and Tyler Kloss.
She was preceded in death by a son, James L. "Jim."
Parish rosary will be at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Hutchinson. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with Father Stuart M. Smeltzer presiding. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, both at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson.
Memorials may be sent to the church or American Cancer Society, both in care of the mortuary.
Johnny E. Jantzen
MONTEZUMA - Johnny E. Jantzen, 76, died Nov. 12, 2004, at Bethel Home Inc.
He was born April 14, 1928, at Montezuma, the son of Enoch and Susanna Voth Jantzen. He lived in Montezuma until he was 17 years old, when he moved to California and then back to Montezuma in 1996. He worked as a house mover.
He belonged to Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Cimarron.
On July 4, 1948, he married
Pauline Maxine Kahn at Winton, Calif. She survives, Montezuma.
Other survivors include: three sons, Rodney and Daniel, both of Hamilton City, Calif., and Johnny Jr., Chico, Calif.; five daughters, Virginia Koehn, Scotia, Neb., Rachel Unruh, Glenn, Calif., Priscilla Jantzen, Montezuma, Evangela Koehn, Scotia, Neb., and Rosetta Jantzen, Montezuma; three brothers, Clarence, Moundridge, Alvin, Glenn, Calif., and Franklin, Blairsville, Ga.; three sisters, Gracie Koehn, Hilmar, Calif., Goldie Koehn, Artois, Calif., and Susie Koehn, Galva; 21 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cimarron Mennonite Church, with Ministers Keith Ensz, Wilbur Koehn and Stuart Jantzen presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, all at Montezuma Funeral Home. Burial will be in Cimarron Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Bethel Home Inc., Montezuma, in care of the funeral home.
Charles W. Abrahamson
KINSLEY - Charles W. "Bill" Abrahamson, 77, died Nov. 12, 2004, at his home, Kinsley.
He was born Nov. 23, 1926, at Kewanee, Ill., the son of Anton and Dorothy Peterson Abrahamson. A Kinsley resident, he retired from the city of Kinsley.
He belonged to United Methodist Church, Offerle.
On Dec. 12, 1976, he married
Barbara L. Wear at Kinsley. She survives.
Other survivors include: a daughter, Melanie Wear, Great Bend; three sisters, Betty Rutledge, Marilyn Wynd, both of Morton, Ill., and JoAnn Thompson, Yates City, Ill.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Kinsley Baptist Church, with Avery L. Rutledge presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at McKillip Memorial Funeral Home, Kinsley. Burial will be in Garfield Cemetery, Garfield.
Memorials may be sent to Southwind Hospice or Offerle Methodist Church, both in care of the funeral home.
Diane M. Terwey
Diane M. Terwey, 56, died Nov. 10, 2004, at Ames, Iowa.
She was born Nov. 19, 1947, at Deluth, Minn., the daughter of Carroll G. and Delores M. Weis Flake. She graduated from Carlton High School, Carlton, Minn., in 1965. A Hutchinson resident since 1976, moving from Carlton, she was owner of Giant Cleaners.
She belonged to Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 2550.
On Sept. 25, 1965, she married
Dennis J. Terwey at Carlton, Minn. He survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Gwendolyn D. Terwey, Wichita, and Shawn M. Battiste, Hutchinson; her mother and stepfather, Delores M. and Jim Cooper, Cloquet, Minn.; a brother, Mike Cooper, Mission, Texas; three sisters, Twila Menart, Wrenshall, Minn., Denise Anderson, Cloquet, Minn., and Patricia Salm, Appleton, Wis.; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Matt Stafford presiding. Reception will follow at Eagles Lodge. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, all at the chapel.
Memorials may be sent to American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer's Association, both in care of Elliott Mortuary.
Esther A. Beat
PRATT - Esther Ann Beat, 92, died Nov. 12, 2004, at Parkwood Village, Pratt.
She was born Aug. 28, 1912, at Nashville, the daughter of Mathias and Louise Heimerman Neises. A resident of Pratt since 1975, moving from St. Leo, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society, Pratt, and St. Leo Daughters of Isabella.
On Feb. 18, 1941, she married
George A. Beat at St. Leo. He survives.
Other survivors include: four sons, Eugene, Pratt, Donald, Kingman, Gilbert, Cunningham, and Leonard, Towanda; three daughters, LaRita Beat, Cheyenne Wells, Colo., Doris Harbert, Kingman, and Georgine Beat, Riverside, Calif.; 29 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth; two brothers, Norbert and Raymond Neises; and four sisters, Sister Petronilla, Sister Alberta, Tillie Dick and Frances Strunk.
Vigil service will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Church, Pratt. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Gregory LeBlanc presiding. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt.
Memorials may be sent to the church, Sacred Heart Catholic School or South Wind Hospice, all in care of Larrison Mortuary, Pratt.
Charles E. Beckett
WICHITA - Charles Edward Beckett, 75, former owner of Holly-Harneds, Wichita, died Nov. 10, 2004.
Charles served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 4118, and was awarded the State Knight of The Year during 1998-1999.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Raymond Beckett.
Survivors include: wife, Teresa Heimerman Beckett; a son, Michael, Wichita; five daughters, Barbara Beckett, Overland Park, Catherine Beckett, Joann Beckett and Patricia Beckett, all of Dallas, and Carolyn Stuhlsatz and husband, Jerry, Garden Plain; and nine grandchildren.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, with the Funeral at 11 a.m. Monday, both at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Wichita.
Memorials may be sent to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Center of Hope or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, all in care of the funeral home.
Mary E. Crotinger
DODGE CITY - Mary Ellen Crotinger, 79, died Nov. 12, 2004, at Trinity Manor Nursing Home, Dodge City.
She was born Sept. 9, 1925, at Caldwell, the daughter of Thomas C. and Mittie Robinson Moore. She graduated from the nursing program at Wesley Nursing Cadets, Wichita, in 1947. A Dodge City resident since 1952, moving from Borger, Texas, she was a nurse at Trinity Hospital from 1952 to 1977, Western Plains Medical Complex from 1977 to 1987 and Trinity Manor Nursing Home until her retirement in 1997.
She belonged to First United Methodist Church, Dodge City, United Methodist Women and Nursing Association District No. 19.
On Aug. 15, 1948, she married
Albert Crotinger at Syracuse. He died April 16, 1993.
Survivors include: three sons, Kenneth E., Liberal, Mark W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Keith E., Dodge City; a daughter, Cheryl Muller, Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Pearl Gonzales, Lombard, Ill.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, with Dr. Jim Godbey and the Rev. Dick Robbins presiding. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Swaim Funeral Home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Ruby E. Pitts
LYONS - Ruby E. Pitts, 87, died Nov. 11, 2004, at Sterling Presbyterian Manor, Sterling.
She was born Sept. 8, 1917, at Meade, the daughter of Caney Franklin and Abby Kay Zilliox Stillwell. She graduated from Scott City High School. A Lyons resident since 1993, formerly of Windom, she was a homemaker.
She attended Assembly of God, Hutchinson.
On Sept. 3, 1947, she married
Frederick L. Pitts at Kansas City, Mo. He died Aug. 10, 1997.
Survivors include: five sons, Garett Haverfield, Temple, Texas, Wayne Haverfield, Liberal, Clinton Frederick Pitts, Lyons, Robert Leland Pitts, Sterling, and Robert J. Moore, Lyons; three daughters, Twilla Garber, Lyons, Twana Phillips, Aulne, and Mary Katherine Dobbins, McPherson; 37 grandchildren; and 92 great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and great-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Loren Keith and Cecil Dale Haverfield; a daughter, Martha Darlene Haverfield; and three brothers, Roger, Gerald and Frank Stillwell.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Assembly of God, Lyons, with the Rev. Kevin Butler presiding. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Sillin Funeral Home, Lyons. Burial will be in Lyons Municipal Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home.
